Two days after Xiaoman's recovery, in Sumeru City, a young man in blue clothes and a bamboo hat wandered the deserted streets, his expression cold.
"Damn you, Nahida, why do you always make me join pointless academic competitions?" he muttered. "And I've told her not to call me Amao, but she won't stop!"
This was the Wanderer, formerly the Scaramouche, now under Nahida's care. He grumbled about her insistence on involving him in events to "integrate into the world" and adapt to his new identity. Deep down, he knew she feared he'd revert to his old self. Though he didn't mind her maternal care, it annoyed him at times.
"Who's there?" he snapped, sensing a strange power fluctuation from the grass.
"Damn it, this system can't even drop me somewhere decent!" Xavier emerged, brushing leaves off himself.
"Who are you? How dare you follow me?" The Wanderer, gripping a wind bomb, grew wary.
"No way, the Scaramouche?" Xavier's eyes widened. This foul-mouthed, temperamental character was trouble. Inviting him to Blue Star seemed like a bad idea.
Hearing his old name, the Wanderer's expression darkened. "You're from the Abyss, here to plot against me?"
His past was erased by Nahida; few knew his true identity. Xavier's odd attire and behavior screamed suspicion.
"Paranoid much?" Xavier rolled his eyes. "I just said your name. Chill."
The Wanderer sneered, unconvinced. "If you won't talk, I'll make you!" He launched the wind bomb at Xavier.
Xavier, expecting the attack, shattered it with a punch, his enhanced physique holding strong.
"Stop it, I'm not here to fight!" Xavier shouted, frustrated at being attacked on arrival.
"I'll verify that myself," the Wanderer retorted, intensifying his assault with a barrage of wind attacks from a summoned roulette.
Xavier, using the Blessing of a Thousand Winds, dodged like a breeze. Angered, he conjured elemental attacks—an ice ball, fire ball, water ball, and wind ball.
"Despicable tricks," the Wanderer scoffed, unimpressed but acknowledging Xavier's resilience and multi-elemental mastery.
As their clash escalated, a powerful force intervened, dissolving their attacks. Nahida approached, her tone gentle but firm. "Amao, I told you not to fight randomly."
The Wanderer crossed his arms, snorting. "This guy's stalking me. Should I just stand there?"
"Stalking? Don't slander me, or I'll sue you in Fontaine!" Xavier snapped back.
Nahida studied Xavier. "You're not from Teyvat."
Xavier nodded. "Yeah, you're sharp. As expected of the World Tree's god."
Nahida ignored the odd phrasing and asked, "What's your purpose here?"
Glancing at the Wanderer, Xavier hesitated but seized the chance. "I'm here to invite you, Nahida, to my world, Blue Star."
The Wanderer scoffed. "What a stupid lie!"
Xavier's mouth twitched. "I'm not inviting you, foul-mouth. Go back to your mom."
"Thunder Cannon!" The Wanderer nearly exploded at the nickname, barely restrained by Nahida's presence.
"Friend, I sense no malice in you," Nahida said, calming the tension. "Don't mind Amao. He's not bad."
"I know, just mouthy," Xavier replied, waving it off.
With Nahida's mediation, Xavier explained his situation and demonstrated his abilities, earning her trust.
"Buyer, if you go to Blue Star with this guy, you might not come back," the Wanderer warned.
Nahida smiled. "Amao, you know Zhongli, the guest official of Wangsheng Hall."
The Wanderer's veins bulged. "So what if he was the Rock King? That's irrelevant! And stop calling me Amao!"